December 22, 1989

Bill Manfredonia says he believes in education. And he’s in a good position to see that his philosophy is carried out at Newtown High School. Mr Manfredonia was hired as principal for the high school as of December 19, with a salary of $70,000. He had been serving as interim principal since June while the school board conducted a search for a new principal when Tim Breslin, former principal, left to become superintendent of Regional School 6.

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Unionized Town Hall employees will add an extra half an hour a day to their work week in keeping with their new contract, and an across the board pay raise of 8.5 percent. Effective January 2, the longer workday will extend from 8 am to 4:30 pm, instead of 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

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Still looking for their first win of the new season, the lady Indians basketball team let one slip away on Tuesday, December 19, in New Fairfield. After getting out to a 26-22 halftime advantage, the Lady Indians got sloppy and were defeated 56-41 by the sharpshooting Rebels.

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The Legislative Council on Wednesday postponed approving money to develop specifications for a new pool at Treadwell Park until the new administration takes over in January. The town has qualified for a $300,000 grant from the state Department of Environmental Protection that will cover about half the cost, but must complete the project by 1992. Council members opted to wait until the new administration takes office before appropriating $48,000 for design work.

December 25, 1964

It is announced that Mrs Archer M. Huntington of Redding has made a gift of 152 acres of land to the state to enlarge the Collis P. Huntington State Park. The property is situated in the Town of Bethel and consists entirely of wooded land. The park was established in 1950 in memory of the late Mr Huntington’s father, by Mr and Mrs Huntington’s gift of 695 acres to the state. In consequence the park presently consists of approximately 873 acres, the largest portion of which is in the Town of Redding, with some acreage in Bethel, and a small portion in Newtown.

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The town recreation department will have supervision at posted hours for skating at the town park during vacation. The red pennant will be flown on the high school flag pole when the area is clear: the ice is hard — not soft. Skaters will be using the area at their own risk whenever the sign indicates “NO SKATING.” There will be no supervision on the morning of Christmas or New Year’s Day.

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Members of the Newtown Rotary Club aided the Newtown Fund Wednesday evening when they delivered boxes of gifts and food to 40 families in town to brighten their holidays. In this number of families, 200 children will be remembered.

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No opposition was voiced at a public hearing in Edmond Town Hall conducted by the Borough Zoning Board of Appeals Tuesday evening to a request for a side yard variance to construct an addition to present Trinity Episcopal Church facilities. The addition would be approximately 5,400 square feet and would be primarily for Sunday School classes. This large addition would be constructed at the rear of the present church edifice on the East or downhill end of the church. Trinity plans further call for a church parking lot to the rear of the addition.

 

December 22, 1939

On Sunday evening, the Newtown Orchestral Society once again presented its annual Christmas concert before an appreciative audience in the Newtown Congregational Church. In the absence of Adolph Abbenante, cellist of the Bridgeport Symphony, who was to have opened the concert with two solo numbers, the orchestra substituted several Christmas carols which were appropriate to the occasion and well-received.

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Nearly 250 happy children swarmed into the Edmond Gymnasium, Wednesday evening, to attend the Christmas party arranged for them by members of Pohtatuck Grange. For the kiddies, it was a most enjoyable evening. A large, prettily decorated and lighted Christmas tree at one end of the gym was the center of activity. Standing near the tree, gaily bedecked in his familiar red and white suit, was jolly old Santa Claus. Over a specially arranged loud speaker he called out individually each child’s name and personally presented them with a gaily wrapped Christmas present and a bag containing oranges, popcorn, and a chocolate Santa.

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For the second year, the Newtown Chamber of Commerce has placed colored lights on the 30-foot fir tree growing near the monument at the head of Newtown’s Main Street. It now shines forth in great brilliance each evening, lending much of the Christmas atmosphere for the pleasure, not only of local residents, but also the many motorists who pass it by. In all, there are 125 lights on the tree, expressing as volubly as possible the Christmas Greetings which the Chamber of Commerce extends to all.

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Constable Hiram Hanlon of Sandy Hook had a most unusual experience on Sunday evening, while doing police duty. Two men approached him and asked him to find them a place to sleep and provide them with food. Mr Hanlon took care of the men’s wants so well that on Monday afternoon, they returned to him and confessed that they had stolen a car on December 13 in New Brunswick, Maine. They had abandoned the car in Boston and hitch-hiked to Newtown. It was learned that the car had been located in Boston and returned to its owner. Maine state police arrived in town and took the men back to Maine.

 

December 25, 1914

Genuine regret is expressed on every hand over the serious illness of Ezra Levan Johnson, Newtown’s well known historian, and for many years chairman of the Board of School Visitors. Mr Johnson is confined to his bed, suffering from weakness attending what is feared a final breaking up. Mr Johnson visited his schools as usual in September and was present at most of the services of the Bi-Centennial of the Congregational church. Although about 84, his interest in and sympathy with the work of the public schools has been unabated.

Our popular borough warden, Charles G. Peck, showed his public spirit, by having a tree in front of his residence illuminated with electric lights, during the holiday evenings. It presented a very handsome appearance and Mr Peck was highly complimented on all sides for his good work.

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A book entitled “The Story of Two Centuries,” with an account of the celebration of the Congregational Church of Newtown, Conn., October 18, 19, and 20, 1914, will be ready for delivery shortly after January 1. The book has been prepared not for the present merely or mainly, but for future generations. The book will be handsomely bound and will contain 17 or more illustrations. The price will be $2.00.

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Howard Briscoe feels especially grateful to the Dodgingtown firemen, in assisting him in rebuilding his house burned a short time since. Each member gave him two days’ work, which was of great assistance to him in his extremity. The house is now up and work on it is being rapidly pushed.